In a curious twist of modern real estate, a family known for their social media presence has sparked controversy by raffling off their renovated flat on TikTok. Nick and Jess Smith, who have garnered a substantial following as The Smithy Family, aimed to offer their six million followers a chance to win a three-bedroom flat in a picturesque mid-Devon village.
For a modest entry fee of £3, participants could potentially receive the keys to this newly refurbished home, along with an additional £10,000 to customize it to their liking. The Smiths set their sights on selling 65,000 tickets, turning the raffle into a unique opportunity for one lucky winner.
However, this unconventional approach to real estate has not been well-received by everyone in the community. The Smiths recently shared a letter they received from their neighbors, which criticized the raffle as ‘wholly inappropriate for an established village such as ours.’ The letter expressed concerns about transforming the area into a platform for ‘riff raff’ and opportunists who might view the property as merely a prize rather than a home.
The correspondence concluded with a plea to Nick, a former builder, and Jess to abandon their raffle plans in favor of selling the property through more traditional means, aligning with what the villagers ‘expect’ and preserving the integrity of their community.
It explains residents, ‘do not want the area opened up to riff raff or opportunists who see the property as a prize rather than a place to live’.
The letter ends by pressing former builder Nick, 38, and Jess, 35, to ditch their plans and sell the property in the ‘traditional’ way that the villagers ‘expect’.
The Smiths shared the letter to their Facebook page.
Tickets for the raffle cost £3, and the Smiths hope to sell 65,000
Nick, 38, and Jess, 35, are a popular influencer couple with millions of followers online
The couple has renovated a three-bedroom flat in a mid-Devon village
Concerned neighbours told the couple the raffle was, ‘wholly inappropriate for an established village such as ours.’
They added: ‘This is a settled community with a strong sense of identity. Many residents have lived here for decades and take pride in maintaining the character, safety, and standards of the area.
‘Opening the property up in this way risks attracting individuals with no genuine connection to the village and little regard for the community as a whole.
‘There is already a growing feeling among residents that the influx of people relocating from London has placed pressure on village life, and this proposal only heightens those concerns.
‘There is growing concern about the wider impact this could have on the village. Turning homes into raffle prizes risks shifting the area toward novelty and short term interest rather than stable, long term residency.
‘Many neighbours feel this undermines the values of the community and opens the door to individuals who may not respect the character, privacy, or standards of the village.’
The Smiths claimed the flat was about giving a ‘life-changing chance to someone who might otherwise struggle to get onto the property ladder’.
The Smithy Family’s Facebook post said: ‘We didn’t expect to be feeling like this today but here we are.
‘We’ve read some negative comments, messages, and even received a letter about what we’re doing with the flat, and if we’re honest, it’s been really upsetting.
‘Not because everyone has to agree with us, they don’t, but because of the assumptions being made about our intentions and about the kind of person who might one day live there.
Nick held the letter up for his followers to see – who were quick to support the couple in their raffle
‘This isn’t a gimmick. It’s not a joke. And it’s definitely not about attention or trying to be controversial.
‘It’s about giving someone a chance. A real, life-changing chance.
‘In a housing market where so many people feel completely locked out, we wanted to do something that opens a door instead of keeping it shut.
‘The hardest part to read, especially in the letter, was the idea that people think they get to decide who does or doesn’t deserve to live somewhere.
‘No one has the right to decide where someone else should live, or whether they’re “good enough” to be there.
‘Whoever ends up with the flat will be a real person with a story, hopes, and pride in their home.
‘They won’t be ‘riff raff’ – They will be someone who’s taken a leap, invested in the opportunity, and will value that home deeply.
‘We truly believe what we’re doing is a good thing and that it comes from a place of fairness, kindness, and trying to help someone in a tough climate.
‘We know not everyone will agree, and that’s okay but our hearts are in the right place and we stand by it.’
